Machine for injecting bacon slabs or the like



July 14, 1953 s. T. Mom-:LAND 2.645,171

MACHINE FOR INJECTING BACON SLABS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept.w,22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l lllll f ,m uw Q7/2% w l w m o J Il. Q i a. II E w n a s Il W 2 l I l. l l n n H. H@ w i H l w w l l l -1| hll m 1.../ .144411111111A- II w W w a m July 14, 1953 s. T. Mom-:LAND

MACHINE FOR INJECTING BACON SLABS OR THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1950 INVENTOR.

July 14, 1953 s. T. MORELAND 2,645,171

MACHINE FOR INJECTING BACON SLABS OR THE LIKE Filed Seht. 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .d @wg i? .11 Ulm I VEN TOR ,f A slmf, Y. a I

July 14, 1953 s. T. MORELAND 2,645,171

MACHINE FOR INJECTING BACON SLABS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 14, 1953 UNITED sTATEs PATENTqoi-Fic MACHINE Fon INJECTINGBAcoN sL'Ansrv on THE LIKE A Stephen T'. Moreland, Indianapols,'1nd. Application September 22, 1950, Serial No. 186,183

The'present invention relates' to a machine for injecting pickling solution, or any other suitable uid, into the'body of bacon slabs, or any other permeable substance. The machine has been primarily designed for injectingpickling solution into bacon slabs, and it has been sokillustrated and will be so described; butthe applicabilityof the underlying principles of the machine to other uses will be readily apparent.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide a relatively simple, and fully automatic, machine for effecting substantially uniform peru meation of a piece of food product with a desired concurrently actuated in such a fashion as to ex# press, through eachinjector, the same volume of fluid, upon such concurrent actuation of kthe syringes. y

A further object of ltheinvention is to provide a machine of the character described through which similar objects will be automatically transported, each object being automatically treated in thesame manner as it passes through the machine. A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine ofthe character under consideration, automatic control means for the various moving parts of theA machine, including the syringe-actuating mechanism.

Still further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in 12 Claims. (Cl. 99'-257) the forms illustrated in theV accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,r that the drawings are illustrative only, and `that change may be made in the specific constructions illustratedanddescribed, so long as the scope ofthe appended claimsis not violated,

Fig. l is a longitudinal section througho'ne form of machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain elements ofthe assembly being more or less diagrammaticalh illustrated;

Fig. 2 is a transversev section through the machine; n

Fig. 3 is a fragmental section takcn'substantially on the line 3, 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a stripper plate constituting an element of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental section, upon an enlarged 2 scale, showing the details ofaA single syringe` assembly;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the. line S, 6 of Fig. 5; y l

Fig. '7 is a similar section taken substantially on the line 1,.'1 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 8, 9,r 10 and 11v are fragmental sectional views showing Various forms of syringe plunger and sealing ring expedients;

Fig. l2 is a Wiring and 4fluid-flow diagram illustrating the control mechanism for the machine;

Fig. 13 is anenlarged section through one form of fluid-motor control valve which maybe used in the machine of the present invention; f l' Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmental section showinga novel form ofpacking means for a piston stem usable in onev form of the present in vention; I n

Fig. 15 is a fragmental diagrammatic View i11ustrating'a modified form of control means;

Fig. v16 is a view similar to Fig. 13 and showing control valve means for use in the control arrangement of Fig. 15; and n Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a special wrench which may be used for seatingor removing the needles of the syringe assemblies embodied in the machine. y

Referring more particularlyA to the drawings, it will be seenthat the machine disclosed herein includes a platform 2U to'which is operativelyconnected the stem 2| of a fluidmotor 22. Pref erably, the stem-2| lwill be threadedly connected to the platform 2li,` whereby the position of said platform relative to said stem may be readily adjusted, and a jam nut 23" is mounted upon the stem 2| to hold the platform in adjusted position. The motor 2:2 may take the form suggested in' Fig. 12, comprising agcylinder 24"With a piston 25 reciprocably'mounted therein, one endofthe". cylinder being nearthe platform 28,' the other end of the cylinder being remote therefrom 'and i supportedupon a frame 25, and the stem 2l*- emerging through the near end of the cylinder.` .The platform 20' is guided forfreciprocation inA the direction of the'axis of the motor 22,- by a plurality of rods 21,' each of which slides 'in one or morek bushings 28 pressed into the bore 29 cfa guidewayL 30, said guidevvays being suitably xed to the frame 26. The downward limit of the stroke of the platformZ Will, of course, be defined by abutment of the platformy against the upper ends of the gudeways ;v The upward limit of the platform stroke is adjustablydetermined by the nuts 21'- adjustably. threaded upon the lower ends of the rods 21 which project below fixed elen ments of the frame 28, as is most clearlyT illustrated in Fig. 2.

The rods 21 also carry a stripper plate 3| xedly spaced above the article-supporting surface of the platform 2D by means of spacer sleeves 32. The stripper plate 3| is formed with uniformly distributed perforations 33 therethrough for a purpose later to become apparent. I presently believe that, according to an optimum arrangement, the perforations 33 will be spaced from each other on 1% inch centers throughout substantially the whole area of the plate 3|.

Transfer and loading means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 34, is suitably mounted upon the frame and comprises a table 35 which, when the platform 20 is in its fully retracted position, lies substantially flush with the article-supporting surface of said platform. A section 36 of the mechanism 34, offset below the general level of the table 35, supports a fluid motor 31 which will preferably be Aof the general character suggested in Fig. 12, comprising a cylin-V der 38 and a piston 39 reciprocably mounted therein. One end of the cylinder 38 is near the platform 20, while the other end thereof is remote from said platform, and a stem 40, connected to move with the piston 39, emerges from the cylinder 38 through the near end thereof. Upon its outer threaded end, the stem 40 carries a nut 4| which is received in a suitable socket 42 in a carriage or pusher 43, interposed between the near end of the cylinder 38 and the platform 20. It will be obvious that engagement of the nut 4| in the socket 42 provides a driving connection between the piston stem 40 and the pusher 43, and that the relation of the pusher to the stem may.

be readily adjusted by rotation of the nut 4|. The pusher 43 is preferably hollow, as shown, to permit said pusher, upon retraction, to straddle the motor 31; and it is preferably supported upon Now, as the pusher is retracted, the object 41 :f

supported thereon will be restrained by the lower end of the chute 45, so that the pusher will move out of the way of that object and the object will dropto the table 35. Now, as the pusher is projected, the object 41 will be moved onto the platform 20. If the next succeeding object 41 has moved out of the chute 45 to be partially supported upon the object on the table 35, the pusher 43 will underride said following object to support the same and, if necessary, to carry it into abutment with the shield wall |12, later to be described.

Suitably supported upon the frame 26 above the platform 20 and the stripper plate 3| is a block or bed 48 in which is formed a gang of cylinders 49, upon parallel axes aligned with the direction of movement of the platform 29, and opening through the upper and lower surfaces of the block 48. The arrangement of cylinders 49 corresponds to the arrangement of perforations 33, so that each cylinder 49 is in axial alignment with a perforation 33.

As is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, the lower end of each cylinder 49 is reduced in area and is internally threaded as at 5l) to receive a valve As will be clear- 1..:

" tributed over its shank.

fitting 5| formed with a port 52 providing communication between the interior of its cylinder 49 and a chamber 53 formed within the fitting 5|. Within each chamber 53 is mounted a check valve which, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, may take the form of a ball 54 resiliently supported in sealing relation with the lower end of the port 52 by a spring 55. The spring 55, in turn, is supported by a. threaded fitting 56 supporting a needle 51 which may sometimes hereinafter be referred to as a hypodermic needle. The needle 51 terminates in a sharp point 58 and is formed with a passage therethrough opening, through suitably arranged perforations 59 dis- Preferably, but not necessarily, the tip 58 of the needle will be imperforate.

Mounted for reciprocation in each cylinder 49 is a plunger or piston 60 which is formed with an axial passage 6| therethrough. Any suitable sealing ring arrangement may be provided between the external periphery of the piston 60 and the cylinder wall, such sealing means being suggested at 62 in Fig. 5. Details of various formsv of satisfactory sea-ling means are shown in Figs. 8 to 11 and will be described in detail hereinafter.

A stem 63is reciprocably mounted in-the passage GI, said stem being provided with an enlarged foot 64 at its lower end receivable in a pocket 65 formed in the lower end of the plunger. The stem 63 is suitably mutilated, as by diametrically opposite, longitudinally-extending grooves 66, to facilitate uid flow therepast through the passage 6|, and the foot 64 is similarly providedv with notches 61 registering with the grooves 66. Obviously, while the pocket 65 is desirable to permit the leading end of the piston 60 to seat on the bottom of the cylinder, its presence is not essential.

Suitable means is provided for sealing the passage 6| against uid ow. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, an annular gasketv68 surrounds the upwardly-opening mouth of the passage 6| at the upper. end of the piston 60. The stem 63 is provided with a reduced extension 69.

A head 10 is formed with a perforation 1| for the extension 69 of each plunger stern 63. Said extensions project beyond the head 10 and receive nuts 12 bearing against the upper surface of the head, whereby the stems 63 are constrained to move with the head 1|).

As is clearly shown in Fig. 5, when the foot 64 is seated in its pocket 65, the head 10 is spaced from the gasket 68, so that the passage 6| is open for fluid flow therethrough. If, however, the head 10 is pressed against the gasket 68, it

will be seen that the passage 8| will be closed against iiuid now. It will be obvious that gasket means could be carried upon the head 10 instead of upon the piston 6U. or that any other suitable means might be used for providing a fluid seal around the mouth of the passage 6| when the head 10 lis pressed against the upper end of the plunger 60.

A chambered cover 13 (Fig. 2) is suitably secured in place upon the block 48, cooperating with said block to define a reservoir 14 within which the head 10 is mounted. Means is provided for supplying iiuid to the reservoir 14; and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, that means comprises a treating-fiuid supply port 15 and a wash-water supply port 16 formed in the cover 13. Suitable valve means (not shown) will control the supply of treating fluid and wash wa.- ter to the respective ports, the valve means being of such character asv to prevent yconcurrent flowv saidposts being operatively connected to the head 10, whereby the head is carried by said posts. At.

their upper ends, the postsare connected to an elementl, each post being providedwith aV re.- duced extension passing through anopening in theelement'i to receive a nut 82 turneddown against the element 8|. is formed with a central opening 83 (Fig.` 2)

through which passes the piston stem 84 of a fluid motor 85, said element 8| being adjustably. securedonl said stem.V The motor mayy take the formsuggested in Fig. 1:?, comprising a cylinder 86 and a piston 81 reciprocably mounted therein,

one end ofthe cylinder being near the platformV and the other end being remote therefrom,

and the stem 84 emerging from the near end of the cylinder.

As is-imost clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the stem 84 projects past the element 8| and toward the cover 13. At its end adjacent the cover/83, the stem 84 is threaded and carries an adjustable nut 88, the cover 13 .being provided with an abutment surface 89 engageable by the 'nut 88 to limit projection of the .piston stem 84. It will'be obvious that, by adjustmentof the nut 818, the degree of fluid-expressing movement ofthe pistons may be adjustably limited..

It ishighly desirable, for reasons'which will appear as the description proceeds, that the projecting movement'of each of the fluid-motor actuating elements, and particularly of thehead 10', may be closely controlled, both .as to magnitude and as to rate. The adjustment means hereinabove described will control the magnitude of such movement; but the rate of such movement will, .of course, be dependent uponthe supply of motive fluid to each motor. While a gaseous motive fluid can, with some difficulty, be controlled to provide satisfactory control of the movement rate of the various driven elements, it is much easier to obtain, such control through the use of a liquid motive. fluid, and for that'y reason I prefer to useliquid, at least for. projecting energization of each motor 22, 31 and 85; In

theform of .the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2

and 13, I have shown liquid actuationofeach' motor 02 which, in turn, is supported'upon the top ofthe reservoir A pipe 93 leadslfrom .the

interior of the reservoir to the .intake port of the.-

pump 9|, vand a supply pipe94 leads'fromthe pump through variousbranches tothe several motors, while other branches lead from the motors to an exhaust pipe which returns to the reservoir; A vcontrol valve 96 (Figs. l2. and

13) receives motive liquid from the. pipe 94 through branch pipe'v 91, and returns liquid' through branch pipe 98 to exhaust pipe 35. The

valveBG controls operation of the motor 22. A similar valve 90 providedWithfsupplyrand exhaust branch pipes |00 and |0| controls motor 31; and a similar valve |02 provided with supply and exhaust branches |03; and |04 controls motorv 85.v The three valves 96, 99and |02 are identical A` post 80' is: reciprocably mounted in each guideway 11,.

The elementv 8 in turn,

Lhave shown a. pump 9| supported upon the frame of an electric.

in* construction, and n therefore onlyv valve 96 has`` beenillustrated .in detail in Fig. 13.

The-supply branch 91 opens into a branched passage |05,of the casingof valve 96the passage |05 being. provided with outlets |06 and |01 opening into the. cylinder |08 formed in said valve' casing. A piston-type Valve |09, having landsv H0, and H2, is mounted forreciprocationr in the cylinder |08. Ports H3, -H'4','H5 and H6 open from saidcylinderi 08intoran exhaust passage |1'from which the exhaust branch'98 leads f to the exhaust pipe 95.

At one end, outsidethe valve casing, thepiston |09 carries an armature H8 for a solenoid H9;- and at its opposite end, said .piston carries an armature-|20 for a solenoid |2I. Pipes. |22 and |23 lead from the cylinder '|08 to opposite ends of the motor cylinder 24,l as is clearly indicated.

in Fig; l2. Ani adjustable flow regulator valve |24 is preferably interposed inthe pipe |22.,Which leads to ther remote endy of the cylinder. v24. Springs |25 and |26, opposed to each other and mounted in opposite ends of the casing ofvalve 96, hold the piston |09 in its illustrated position when both solenoids |9 and |2| are deenergiz'ed.

It will be clear that, when the piston |09A is in its-illustrated position, liquid is free to flow fromthe supply branch 91 through the passage |05,

ports |06'-and |01, cylinder |08, ports H3 andA H4, and passage I1 to the discharge branch 98'. If, however, the solenoid |9is energized, the piston will beshifted to the rightagainst the ,tendency of thespring |25. Thereby, thel land Ill williopenv communication' between the cylinder |08 and the pipe; |22, the landv I |0 will close com'- munication betweenithe cylinder |018 andthe exhaust passage H3, andthe land H2 will close communication between the port |01 and .the cylinder |08 and will open communication between the pipe |23and the cylinder. port H6.v Now. liquid willilow from the supply pipe-91 through the passage |05 andport y|06 yto the right-hand end. ofthe. cylinder |08 and thence through'the pipe |22-tothe remote end of the motor cylinder 24, tending to project the piston 25'and its stem 2|; while an exhaust iiow path is opened from the near` endof themotor .cylinder 24 through the .pipe |23,- theleft-hand end of the cylinder |08, port H6 and'passage H1 to the exhaust branch 98. f

Upon deenergization .of the vsolenoid H9, the.v

piston |09 will return to its illustrated position. in which thelands v| and ||2fclose the pipes |22 and |23, respectively, to hold the motor pis'- ton 25 against movement. is energized, the piston |09 .will be moved to the left against Ythe tendency of the spring |26, whereby land |H will open communication between pipe |22 and port H5 and will close port |06;

land ||0willclose port |I4,`and land ||2 will. opencommunication between port |01 and pipe' Now; liquid will flowffroni pipe 91 Athro-ugh |23. passage' |05, port |01, cylinder |06 and pipe |23 to the near end of motor cylinder 24, while liquid willbe exhausted from the remote end 'of saidl cylinder through pipe |22, cylinder |88, port H5,

passagei |1-and branch exhaust pipe 98.

Similarly, pipe |21, in which is interposed regulating valve |28, leads from control valve 99' to the remote` end of motor cylinder 38 'and pipe |29 leads from the near end'of said cylinder to the control valve 99, `solenoid |39 being'operable to shift the valve 99 to supply liquid to the remote end. ofthe motor cylinder 38, and solenoid |3| being 'operable Ito shift `.the valve 99`to supplyl 2645,`17Y1 7 8 fluid to the near end of the motor cylinder 38. In ig passages 6| therethrough. The upper ends of the same way, pipe |32, controlled by regulating valve |33, provides communication between the valve |02 and the remote end of the motor cylinder 86, While pipe |34 provides communication between the control valve |02 and the near end of said cylinder 86, solenoids |35 and |36 similarly controlling the valve |02.

A source of electrical energy is indicated at |31 in Fig. 12, wherein I have shown a three-wire system passing through a control box |38 and comprising wires |39, |40 and |4| connected toV energize the motor 92. Wire |4| is connected to one side of each of solenoids |9 and |2| through wires |42, |43, |44 and branch wires |45 and |46. Said wire |4| is connected tov one side of eacliof's'olc-` noids |30 and |3| through wires |42, |41 and branch Wires |48 and |49. Wires |42, |43, |44 and branch Wires |50 and |5| connect wire |4| with solenoids |35 and |36.

The other side of solenoid ||9 is connected to wire |39 through wire |52, wire |53, switch |54, wire |55, wire |56 and wire |51. The other side of solenoid |2| is connected to wire |39 through wire |58, switch |59, wire |60 and wires |56 and |51. Wire |6| leads from the other side of solenoid |30 through switch |62 to wire |56. The other side of solenoid |3| is connected through wire |63 to wire |53. Wire |64 leads from the other side of solenoid |35 through switch |65 and Wire |66 to wire |51; While the other side of solenoid |36 is connected by wire |61 to wire |3|.

Abutment means |68, |69 and |10 are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 12. Abutment means |68 will move with piston stem 2|; abutment means |69 will move with nut 88; and-abutment means |10 will move with stem 40. The switch |62 is normally open and is positioned to be engaged and moved to closed position by abutment means |68 when'the platform 20 reaches its fully retracted position. Switch |54 is normally open and is positioned to be engaged and closed by abutment |59 when stem 84 reaches its fully retracted position. Switch |59 is normally open and is positioned to be engaged by abutment means |69 when nut 88 strikes the abutment 89 on the cover 13. Desirably, the movable element of switch |59 may actually be supported upon the cover 13. Switch |65 is normally open and is adapted to be engaged and closed by abutment meansV 10 when stem 40 reaches its fully retracted position.

General Operation Assuming the platform 20 to be in its fully retracted position, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, if the control system of Fig. 12 is energized, the

motor 92 Will be energized to drive the pump 9| to supply liquid under pressure through the pipe 94 to the branches 91, |00 and |03. The switch |62 will be closed, whereby solenoid 30 will be energized through a circuit leading from power Wire |4| through wire |42, Wire |41, wire |48, wire |6|, switch |62, wire |56, and wire |51 to power wire |39. Solenoid |36 will also be energized through a circuit which may be traced from power wire |4| through wire |42, wire |43, wire wire |61, wire |6|, switch |62, Wire |56, and wire |51 to power wire |39. Thereby, liquid under pressure will be supplied to the remote end of motor 31 and to the near end of motor 85. Pusher 43 will be projected to move a block 41 onto the platform 20. Concurrently, head will be retracted or lifted. As the head moves upwardly, it will first move away from the upper ends of plungers 60, thereby openthe syringe assemblies are, of course, submerged in-the pickling liquid filling the reservoir 14. As the feet 64 seat in the pockets 65, further upward movement of the head 10 will retract the plungers 60, thereby reducing the pressure in cylinders 49 (valves 54 preventing ingress of air to said cylinder through the needles 51) and pickling liquid will be drawn through the passages 6| into the cylinders 49. Since the pistons are of uniform size and will move through a. uniform distance, uniform volumes of liquid will be drawn into the vari-A ous cylinders.

As the stem 84 reaches Vits limit of retraction, the abutment means |69 will close the switch 54,

thereby energizing solenoids 9 and |3|. The energizing circuit for solenoid ||9 is traced from power line |39 through wire |51, wire |56, branch wire |55, switch |54, wire |53, wire |52, solenoid ||9, wire |45, Wire |44, wire |43, and wire |42 to line wire |4 l. The energizing circuit for solenoid |3| is traced from line wire |39 through wire |51, wire |56, branch wirev |55, switch |54, wire |53, wire |63, solenoid |3|, branch wire |49, wire |41 and wire |42 to line wire |4|. Thus valve 96 will beshifted to supply fluid to the remote end o1' motor cylinder 24, while valve 99 will be shifted to supply liquid to the near end of motor cylinder 38.

Platform 20 will thus be lifted by motor 22, carrying upwardly the piece 41 supported thereon to cause the needles 51 to penetrate said piece to a depth determined by the adjustment of the nuts 21. concurrently, the pusher 43 will be retracted to permit a fresh piece 41 to drop onto the table 35.

As the stem 40 reaches the limit of its retraction, its abutment means |10 will close the switch |65 to energize the solenoid |35 through a circuit to be traced from line wire |39 through Wire |51, wire |66, switch |65, wire |64, solenoid 35, branch wire |50, wire |44, wire |43 and wire |42 to line wire |4|. Liquid will thus be supplied to the remote end of motor cylinder 86 to move the head 10 downwardly.

Since the pieces 41 are not of absolutely uniform size and shape, some of the needles 51 may not be engaged therein. The texture, density and character of the pieces 41 may not be uniform throughout each body. It will be entirely apparent, for these and other reasons, that if a single piston were mounted, for instance, in the reservoir 14, all of the needles communicating with that reservoir, there would be a wide variance in the volumes of pickling liquid expressed through the individual needles of the gang. However, since each needle is provided with its individual syringe cylinder, since the cylinders are of uniform volume and since the individual plungers are uniformly moved, absolute uniformity of volume of liquid discharged through the respective needles will be attained.

By carefully controlling the supply of motive fluid to the motor 85, movement of the head 10 may be so controlled that pickling liquid will be quite uniformly distributed through the body of the article 41. Because of the particular structural arrangement herein disclosed, each needle 51 may be said to act individually as a brake upon liquid-expressing movement of the head 10. That is, if even one needle of the gang should be completely clogged, further downward movement of the head 10 will be stopped, provided the rupture strength of the needle exceeds the pressure exerted by the motor 85. Thus, the operator would be warned of imperfect operation of the creasing as ltherleanness increases.

l machine, and-will be-given anopportunityto shut down themachine and'clean ther aiieetedne'edle.

' This capacity of the disclosed machine ishighly important and desirable inthe art to which the invention pertains. The rate of vinjection must be so controlledthat the vpickling liquid -willgbe injectedy into the-meat as rapidly-as vii.' can be'abscrbed therein-Vbutat a rate notl exceeding-the l absorption capacity of the meat.V "If 'f rate of absorption. In bacon, for instance-,den-

sity variesA widely among individual -slabs,-in Inherent in -the machine, as hereinzdiselosed,then, isa self- -adjusting capacity whereby the rate vof-injection will be to some extentvaried in -accordance -with variationsin absorption-.capacty of fthepiece being treated. Y l

'When the nuticomesinto contact-with the `abutment-89, the abutmentmeans |(i9v-willl close the switch |59. 'beenergizedthrough a-circuit tracedA from line Thereby, the `solenoid |2| will `tract vther-platform12-0; and vwhen the platform reaches its position ofrfullretraction, the switch |82 will be closed toreinitiate the cycle of opera- -|12 of Vtheshield adjacent the vfeed mechanism 34 will be metal; butthe'other three walls ofthe :shield may advantageously be made of trans- .parent plasticmaterial such'as polystyrene, V-Lucite, or the like.

When conventional oil is usedras the motive viluid for actuating the motors 22,5131fand 85, of course it is .highly 'desirableto-protect the food products beinghandled against any possible contamination by. oil leaking from the motorsfaround the piston stems. One effective means for'pro viding such protection is illustrated vin Fig. '14. ,As thereshown, thatfend of the cylinder near .the platform20 .is formed .to provide an enlarged chamber |13 filledV with packing material |14 =at oneend, and with packing material |15 at the othe11end, such packing material pressing against the stem 2| and against the peripheral wall of the chamber |13. kBetween the packing Asections |14 and |15, I insert a member |15 formed to provide an external annular groove |11 and an internal annular groove |18 joined by a series of perforations |19. The groove or channel |11 registers with av radial port |80 through the wall of the chamber |13; and a fitting. |8| is received in said port and connects witha conduit |82 leading to the reservoir 90. `Anyoil',` which nds its way past the packing '|14 along the wall of the chamber |13 will be trapped in ythe channel |11 and thence carried to the port |80. Any oil which iinds its way along the surface of the stem 2| will -be trapped in the channel |18 and thence carried 4through one or stem 84. lvide -a ycylinder A'|81 in-which is reciprocably Vmounted-"a piston-valve` |88 formed with-spaced -more A'of the ports -l'19'1to `channel |11 and lso through the port |80. Each of themotors 22, 31 and 85 may be providedwith similar protective As an alternative meansof Yprotecting'thefood product fagainst contamination by the motive liquidfhave suggested in-Figs. 15- and -lfan/ arrangement-wherein no oil isusedfinthe near ends of the motorcylinders. lnfFlg.;l5, I have -diagrammatically illustrated-a motorf85' to take thelplace of-the motor 185 and comprising a cyl- -inder "|83 in-which 'is-reciprocabl'y mounted a piston |84 carrying=1a1stem|85 equivalent to the A- control -valve i |j861is formed4 to `pro-- lands |89 and'l90. -Ports |8|fand|92 lead from cylinder k'|81 into passage `|93 lwithl which com-- municates branch exhaust ypipe l|04. 4Branch supply pipe |03 opens into said cylinder; 'and the piston '|88 carries at one end an farmature |94 for a solenoid |95fand carries at its opposite end an armature |96 for a solenoid |91. Springs |98 and |99 normally hold the valve in its illustrated position. A pipe 200 leads fromcylinder v|81 to the remote end of motor cylinder |83, a regulating valve 20| -being linterposed in said pipe.

When the solenoid |95 is energized, the valve |88will be shifted to the right, wherebypipe 200 will be placed in direct communication-with supply branch |03 through the cylinder |81, .while the port |92 will be closed by land |90 andthe port |9| will be closed from communication with the supply branch |03 by the land |89. Thereby, liquid will be supplied to the remote end of the cylinder |83 to project the piston |84 and its stem |85. When the solenoid l|95 isdeenergized, thespring |98 will return the piston |88 toits illustrated position, wherein the pipe 200 is sealed, but the supply pipe |03 communicates with the exhaust pipe |04 through the cylinder |81, port |9|,.andY passage |93.

When the solenoid |91 is energized, the valve will be moved tothe left, whereby land |90 will close supplyl branch 03', while .pipe .2 0,0 ,.willY be i placed L in communication rwith :exhaust branch `uid under ,pressurezavailable Afrom thepump `V`9 I,Y

TheA air 'pressure, however, `will be sufiicientlyfsu.-

*Y peratmosphericso that, `when the remote :end of theI cylinder 183 is vented-to the reservoir,

as descrbedabove, the piston. |.84fwill vbe re- -tracted-byfsuchfair/pressure. InFig; 1-7,'-I have `shown-a special Awrench-1203 for manipulating'the needles 51 and `their assemblies.` The`-wrench comprises vra shank Y204 having an enlarged head 205 formed with 'asocket 208 shape'd and proportioned to conform to the projecting ends Yof thenttings`5| and 56 or'either of them. In orderthat it may not be necessary to ,dismount the platforml 20 or' the b1ock48 in order to manipulate .one or V.more needles, `the head 205 is formedwith a longitudinally-extend-A ingqslot 201 and the Vshankf204is formed with a similar andzcommunicating -slot 208 whereby thelongneedleimay be :entered into ;..the wrench in .a radial direction vbefore the wrench is moved l l axially to engage the fitting to be manipulated in the socket 206.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the class described, a gang of syringes, each comprising a chamber, a piston reciprocable in said chamber, and a perforated needle communicating with said chamber, a platform for supporting a product into which fluid is to be injected, motor means for producing relative movement between said platform and said needles to cause said needles to enter a product supported on said platform, motor means for subsequently moving said pistons in unison in their chambers to drive fluid out of said chambers through said needles, control means for said lastnamed motor means, including a switch, and means automatically actuated after said needles have entered such product, to shift said switch to initiate piston movement.

2. In a machine of the class described, a gang of cylinders, a perforated needle communicating with each cylinder, a piston reciprocable in each cylinder, means providing a valve-controlled in- ,let to each cylinder, a platform supported adjacent the free ends of said needles and movable toward and away therefrom in line with said needles, conveyor means adjacent said platform and including an intermittently movable element operable to feed objects successively onto said platform, means energized when said platform attains its position most remote from said needles to shift said movable element toward said platform and to retract said pistons in their cylinders to draw a uniform, measured Volume of `fluid into each cylinder, means energized when said pistons have been fully retracted to retract said movable element and to move said platform toward said needles to cause said needles to enter an object on said platform, means energized when said movable element has been fully retracted to advance said pistons in their cylinders to drive such measured volumes of fluid from said cylinders through said needles, and means energized upon completion of the fluid-discharging stroke of said pistons to retract said platform.

3. The machine of claim 2 including means for adjustably and uniformly limiting thelength of the stroke of said pistons, thereby varying the volume of fluid so handled through each cylinder.

4. In a machine of the class described, a reservoir, a gang of cylinders opening from said reservoir, a piston reciprocably mounted in each cylinder and retractible. into said reservoir, each piston being formed with a passage therethrough providing, at times, communication between said reservoir and the interior of its cylinder ahead of said piston, a head positioned in said reservoir and having a lost-motion connection with each of said pistons, and means for reciprocating said head in line with said cylinders, said head and each of `said pistons being formed with cooperating surfaces establishing a fluid seal with said piston passages to close said passages when said head moves toward said cylinders, and said head moving away from said pistons to open such passages upon retraction therefrom.

5. In a machine of the class described, a reservoir, a gang of cylinders formed on parallel axes, each cylinder having a rearward end opening into said reservoir and a forward end, a perforated needle for each cylinderand opening into the forward end thereof, a piston reciprocably mounted in each cylinder, a head mounted in said reservoir for reciprocating movement therein substantially in the line of SaidcyIinder axes.v each piston having a passage therethrough opening into its cylinder ahead of said piston and having a mouth presented toward said head, means providing a lost-motion driving connection between each piston and said head, said head being provided with a sealing portion for each piston, each such portion cooperating with its piston passage mouth to seal the same during movement of said head toward the forward ends of said cylinders, but moving away from its piston to open said mouth during movement of said head away from said forward ends of said cylinders.

6. In a machine of the class described, a platform, a first fluid motor including a reciprocable piston supporting said platform to move between projected and retracted positions, a table located adjacent the retracted position of said platform, a feeder element mounted to sweep said table, a second fluid motor including a piston operatively connected to move said feeder between a retracted position in which said table is free to receive an object, and a projected position closely adjacent said platform, said feeder acting, upon movement from its retracted position to its prog jected position, to sweep an object supported on said table from said table onto said platform, a block mounted in line with the path of movement of said platform and near the projected position of said platform, a plurality of injectors supported on said block and projecting toward said platform to enter an object supported on said platform when said platform is projected, means providing a fluid reservoir communicating with said injectors, a third fluid motor including a piston shiftable between projected and retracted positions, means actuated by said third fluid motor upon projection of its piston to express fluid from said reservoir through said injectors, a source of fluid under pressure, a first valve means controlling now between said source and said flrst fluid motor, a second valve means controlling flow between said source and said second fluid motor, a third valve means controlling flow between said source and said third fluid motor, means actuated by retraction of said first fluid motor piston to operate said second valve means to project said second fluid motor piston and to operate said third valve means to retract said third fluid motor piston, means actuated byretraction of said third fluid motor piston to operate said first valve means to project said first fluid motor piston and to operate said second valve means to retract said second fluid motor piston, means actuated by retraction of said second fluid motor piston to operate said third valve means to project said third fluid motor piston, and means actuated by projection of said third fluid motor piston to operate said first valve means to retract said first fluid motor piston.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a platform mounted for reciprocation between projected and retracted positions, a first motor connected to drive said platform, means dominating said motor comprising a projecting electric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate said motor to project said platform and a retracting electric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate said motor to retract said platform, a first motor projecting switch dominating said projecting circuit, a first motor retracting switch dominating said retracting circuit, a table located adjacent the retracted position of said platform, a feeder element mounted to sweep said table, a second motor connected to drive said feeder element between a retracted position in which said table 'is freev to receive an object,land aprojected position closely adjacent said platform, saidffeeder acting, upon movement from its retracted positionto its projected position, to sweep an object supported on said table from said table ontosaid platform, means dominating said second-motor comprisinga prcjectingelectric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate ,said second motor to .project said feeder and a retracting A electric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate saidsecond motor to retract said feeder, a second motor projecting switch dominating said second motor projecting circuit, said first motor projecting switch dominating said second motor retracting f circuit, a block mounted in linewith the path of A Ameans operatively associated with said injectors and movable between a retracted position and a projected position to expressfluid from said reservoir lthrough said injectors, a third motor connected to drive said reciprocating means, means dominating said third motor comprising a projecting electric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate said third motor to project said reciprocating meansl and -a retracting electric circuit acting,vwhen energized, to actuate said third motor to retract said reciprocating means,.a third vmotor projecting switch dominating said third motor projecting circuit, said second motor projecting switch dominating said third motor retracting circuit, said switches being normally open, means moved by said first motor to close said second motor projecting switch upon retraction of said platform, means moved by said third motor to close said first motor projecting switch upon retraction of said reciprocating means, means moved by said second motor to close said third motor projecting switch upon retraction of said feeder, and means moved by said third motor to close said first motor retracting switch upon projection of said reciprocating means.

8. In a device of the class described, a platform for supporting a food product, a pusher for delivering such products serially to said platform, r

a bank of injectors, each including a reciprocating plunger, arranged adjacent said platform and facing the supporting surface thereof, a first reciprocating liquid-actuated motor including a cylinder, a piston mounted therein, and a stem moving with said piston andfsupporting said platform, said platform being interposed between said motor and said bank of injectors, a second reciprocating, liquid-actuated motor including a cylinder, a piston mounted therein, and a stem moving with said piston and operatively connected to drive said pusher, said pusher being interposed between said second motor and said platform, a third reciprocating, liquid-actuated motor including a cylinder, a piston mounted therein, and a stem moving with said piston and operatively connected to drive said injector plungers, said injectors being interposed between said third motor and said platform, a reservoir for motor-actuating liquid, means for supplying liquid from said reservoir to said motors under pressure, and packing means for each piston stem including means providing an-axially-elongated chamber opening into the associated cylinders and through which said stem extends, packing Vfor supporting a food product, a pusher for delivering such,l products serially to said platform, a bank of injectors,each including a reciprocating plunger, arranged `adjacent said platform and facing the supporting surface thereof, a first reciprocatingv motor including a'cylinder having one end near said platform.v and its other endre- Vmote therefrom, a piston mountedV therein/anda stern moving with said piston and supporting said platform, said platform beinginterposedbetween said motor and said bank ofinjectors, a second reciprocating motor including a cylinder'having one end near saidplatform and its other end -remotek therefrom, a pistonmounted therein anda stem moving with said piston and operatively con'- nected todrive said pusher, said pusher being interposed between said second motor and .said platform, a thirdreciprocating motor includinga cylinder havingA one end near said platform-and its other end remote therefrom, a piston mounted therein, and a stem-,movngwith said piston and operatively connected to drive .said injector plungers, said injectors being interposed between said thirdmotor and said platform, a reservoir for motor-actuatingliquid, means for supplying liquid from said reservoir under pressure, valved conduit means for connecting the remote ends of said ycylinders selectively with said :supplying means or with said reservoir, a source of gas under pressure, and conduit means connecting they near ends of said cylinders with said gas source. 10. In a machine of the class described, a gang of syringes, each comprising a cylinder, an in jector needle communicating with the forward end of each cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in each cylinder, said pistons and cylindersA being so proportioned and arranged that, when each piston is in its forwardmost |position, the rearward end of said piston remains outside the rearward end of its cylinder, each piston being formed with an axial passage therethrough, a sealing gasket surrounding the rearward end of each piston passage, a stem loosely mounted in, and completely traversing, each piston passage, means limiting rearward movement of each stem relative to its associated passage, a head operatively connected to allof said stems and movable into and out of sealing engagement with all of said gaskets, and means for reciprocating said head in a direction axial with respect to said cylinders whereby, as said head moves forward with respect to said cylinders, it closes allof said piston passages and then drives said |pistons toward the forward ends of their cylinders, and as said head moves rearwardly with respect to said cylinders, it opens all of said piston passages and then retracts said pistons.

11. In a machine of the class described, a gang of syringes, each comprising a cylinder, an injector needle communicating with the forward end of each cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in each cylinder, said pistons and cylinders being so proportioned and arranged that, when each piston is in its forwardmost position, the rearward end of said piston remains outside the rearward end of its cylinder, each lpiston being formed with an axial passage therethrough, a sealing gasket surrounding the rearward end of each piston passage, a stem loosely mounted in, and completely traversing, each piston passage, a foot at the for- .tons and said head thereby being movableinto and out of sealing engagement with all of said gaskets, and means for reciprocating said head in azdlrection axial with respect to said cylinders whereby, as said head moves forward with respect to said cylinders, itcloses all of said piston passages and then drives said pistons toward the forwardends of their cylinders, and as said head moves rearwardly with respect to said cylinders, it opens all of said piston passages and then retracts said pistons.

- l 12.7In a machine of the class described, a gang of cylinders, a perforated needle communicating with eachcylinder, a piston reciprocable in each cylinder, means providing a valve-controlled inlet to .each cylinder, a platform supported adjacent the free ends of said needles, means for producing relative movement of said gang and said platform toward and away from each other in line with saidneedles, conveyor means adjacent said platform and including an intermittently movable element operable to feed objects successively onto said platform, means energized when said platform and said gang attain maximum separation to shift said movable element toward said platform and to retract said pistons in their cylinders to draw a uniform, measured volume of uid into each cylinder, means energized when said pistons have been fully retracted to retract said movable l 16 Aelement and to produce relative movement of said platform and said gang toward each other to cause said needles to enter an object on said platform, means energized when said movable element has been fully retracted to advance said pistons in their cylinders to drive such measured volume of fluid from said cylinders through said needles, and means energized upon completion of the fluid-discharging stroke of said pistons to produce separation of said platform and said gang.- y

STEPHEN T. MORELND.

References Cited in' the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 2,461 James Jan. 15, 1867 312,648 Merrell Feb. 24, 1885 751,555 Prescott Feb. 9, 1904 963,119 Champ July 5, 1910 1,246,180 Taylor Nov. 13, 1917 1,332,629 McIntyre Mar. 2. 1920 1,663,513 Howse Mar. 20, 1928 1,787,900 Goff Jan. 6, 1931 1,965,655 Rossi May 1, 1934 2,161,659 Shepard et al June 6, 1939 2,330,596 Kotcher Sept. 28, 1943 2,520,719 Hanson Aug. 29, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 123,230 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1919 502,486 Germany Feb. 12, 1928 

